Cement CO2 Emissions Reduction Plan

In-depth plans have been published detailing how companies should work to lower the impact of cement production on the environment. Taking 1990 as a baseline figure, the cement emissions reduction strategy seeks an 81 per cent drop by 2050.

Release by the Mineral Products Association, the plan lays out a number of measures to be adopted or built-on, between now and then. Established in 2009, the Mineral Products Association describes itself on its website as ‘the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, lime, mortar and silica sand industries.'

"These are ambitious but achievable targets", the Mineral Products Association's executive director, Doctor Pal Chana, explained in a statement on the cement CO2 emissions reductions aims. "The document we are publishing today shows that by building on the considerable efforts we have already made and by capitalising on breakthrough technology in carbon capture and storage as and when it becomes available and economically viable, we believe we can deliver significant GHG reductions."

Cement CO2 Emissions

• Decreased use of virgin fossil fuels, with waste-derived fuels used whenever possible
• Use of carbon-neutral biomass fuels
• Use of cements with decreased CO2 content
• Lower cement clinker levels in completed cement projects
• Increased adoption of energy-efficient systems at cement manufacturing plants
• Lower emissions related to cement transportation
• Increased use of CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) technologies

Cement Emissions Reductions

Acknowledging that there are cement emissions reduction elements outside the Mineral Products Associations' direct influence, he added: "Without effort on those elements...we still anticipate being able to reduce our GHG footprint by 62% against a 1990 baseline if the market and investment conditions allow."

Back in 2009, it was reported that cement CO2 emissions represented five per cent of the world's total emissions: more, then, than produced by the air travel industry.